19 – 25 July 2018

By LSHTM Communications Team · July 25, 2018 · Uncategorized · Comments Off on 19 – 25 July 2018

AIDS Conference

Peter Piot is quoted by Devex on a new International AIDS Society-The Lancet commission written by a group of 40 international experts that warns the response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic is at risk of ‘dangerous complacency.’ He said: “We need to move away from the ‘end of AIDS is in sight’ rhetoric … which is not supported by the facts.”

Peter Piot also provides an interview to BBC World Service Radio’s World Update programme (from 43m20s): “There is measurable progress but that is not enough…we are not on track in a number of parts of the world in terms of ending the epidemic.”

Elsewhere

David Heymann provides comment to the Associated Press on research that suggests a Liberian patient who caught Ebola in 2014 may have infected three relatives one year after initially falling ill: “The Ebola virus hides in places where it can escape the antibodies from a body’s immune system, so there is a need for vigilance.” The article generated coverage in over 300 outlets across North America including CBS News, USA Today, New York Post and CBC News (Canada).

Brian Greenwood speaks to Radio France Internationale on a new drug approved by the US Food and Drug Administration used to treat malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax: “Having a drug that will get rid of any parasites…will be very helpful in any elimination campaign.”

Stephen Evans provides comment to Reuters on news that a trial investigating the use of Viagra in pregnancy has been urgently stopped after 11 newborns died: “There have been other studies in this area.There was no indication that the treatment was dangerous based on previous research.” The article generates coverage in at least 60 outlets across the world including The Sun, The Irish Times, TIME (US), ABC (Australia) and NDTV (India). Stephen was also interviewed by BBC Radio Scotland about the trial.

Ros Stanwell-Smith is interviewed by London Live about the reinstallation of the John Snow replica pump on Broadwick Street, Soho: “It was John Snow realising the link between the pump and cholera that ended the outbreak. He worked it out by deducing who lived in the area, who died and whether they drank water. If he hadn’t had the pump handle removed there would have caused a second wave of cholera”.

On social media

The return of the a replica of the infamous John Snow pump on Broadwick Street in Soho has helped the LSHTM Twitter and Facebook accounts to have a particularly successful week. The original pump was at the centre of the famous outbreak of cholera in 1854 which claimed the lives of over 600 people.

Tweets celebrating the return of the pump received a total of more than 140 retweets and over 200 likes and LSHTM’s Facebook post has gained more than 500 reactions and been shared at least 150 times, making it one of our most popular posts yet!